The Expansion of Buddhism

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The rise of Buddhism occurred just after the end of the later Vedic period of Indian history (ca. 1000 BC–550 BC). According to tradition, its founder, the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, was born in the Lumbini park near Kapilavastu, in the sixth/fifth century BC.

By the second century AD, there was a major development within Buddhism. There arose a general need for representation of the Buddha in human form. A division in the faith occurred with the creation of two sects: the Mahayana and the Hinayana.

Mahayana Buddhism believed in the elevation of the Buddha to the status of a god. They also permitted the representation of the Buddha as a human being. The rules governing the monastic orders were relaxed. However, in the early phase of the schism, the Mahayana remained the minority.

Hinayana Buddhism believed in upholding the traditional values of the Buddha based upon his teaching.

By 250 BC, Buddhism had spread to Sri Lanka. Later, the Mahayana sect became popular. It is this school which spread to south-east Asia and China.

In the sixth century AD, Mahayana Buddhism spread to Cambodia. It was introduced by merchants who conducted trade with the country. Mahayana Buddhism spread to Thailand in the fourth century AD and to China in about 50 AD.